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Through eight games this season, the Senators look quite good with a record of 5-2-1.

Craig Anderson is playing like a goaltender possessed, Kyle Turris looks to have taken his game to another level and Erik Karlsson is clearly the best defenceman in the game right now.

With Jason Spezza going down with a recent back injury, points will become harder and harder to come by.

The Senators will have a tough time replacing the skill and offensive composure that Spezza brings to the table.

Turris has gotten off to a very good start and more will be asked of him, but he is not the same kind of playmaking centre as Spezza.

Not many are and as much as people rip on Spezza, there is not another player on the team -- with the exception of Erik Karlsson -- who can create something out of nothing.

But Paul MacLean and his staff how done a great job picking up from where they left off from last year and the Senators have some solid momentum going.

With Spezza out, here are some options the club has going forward.

Trade for a top centre

In a perfect world, this would be the move to make, but it's unlikely to happen.

Teams don't trade No. 1 centres and last time I checked, opposing NHL GMs aren't in the charitable business.

The asking price for a top centre is huge and I don't believe that's the path a young, surging team wants to go down -- at least not right now.

Sign a veteran centre

In an 82-game schedule, maybe this move would make sense but we're now down to 40 games. Bringing in a veteran centre for the remainder of the season definitely wouldn't lose you games, but I don't think it wins you any, either.

With 40 games remaining, you'd have to factor in another five to 10 games for the player to get into game shape and by that time you're down to 30.

Most of the players that are waiting for a call from a team that has run into injury problems are not the ones that can come into a team and start setting up shop on the half-wall for your top power-play unit. Players signed in the near future will be coming in to provide depth and insurance to teams, not front-line minutes.

Play hand you're dealt

Short term, I really believe this is the best option. The Senators are a young team that is building for the future, they have excellent chemistry and a willingness to play and compete for one another, which is tough to cultivate in professional sports.

Zach Smith is playing solid down the middle with a nice blend of nastiness and skill and Turris is thriving.

The wild cards for me are players like a Mika Zibanejad, Peter Regin or maybe even a Stephane Da Costa.

These are the three players that could step up and take their careers to another level and this could be the opportunity that kick-starts it.

For every young player that comes into any league, you really have no idea how good they can be until they're thrust into a pivotal role .

If you asked the San Francisco 49ers, I'm sure nobody expected Colin Kaepernick to be their starting QB in the Super Bowl when the NFL season began.

Top 5 NHLers who resemble NFL QBs

1. Steven Stamkos: Peyton Manning. Manning is a pure passer just like Stamkos is a pure shooter, both are apple-pie clean and front-and-centre faces of their leagues.

2. Joe Corvo: Tony Romo. Both players have amazing skill, yet both are prone to amazing brain farts -- seems like a match made in heaven.

3. John Tavares: Russell Wilson. Tavares and Wilson are two of the most underrated players in their respective leagues, both are world class talents and both are underappreciated.

4. Erik Karlsson: Robert Griffin III. The Washington Redskins QB is the most exciting player in football and Erik Karlsson is the NHL's version.

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